22. A sole owner wants their youngest child to inherit their lake house. The owner writes a will specifying their youngest child as the recipient. When the owner dies and the child receives the property, this is an example of
Answer: D
This is an example of the right of descent.
When a sole owner specifies their youngest child as the recipient of a property in their will, and that child receives the property upon the owner's death, it exemplifies the right of descent, which pertains to the transfer of property upon death according to the owner's wishes.
A) voluntary alienation
Voluntary alienation refers to the transfer of property by the owner's willing action, such as selling or gifting it while alive. In this scenario, the property transfer occurs after the owner's death through a will, making this option incorrect.
B) involuntary alienation
Involuntary alienation involves the transfer of property without the owner's consent, typically due to circumstances like foreclosure or escheat. Since the property transfer here is executed according to the owner's expressed wishes in a will, this option does not apply.
C) escheat
Escheat occurs when property reverts to the state due to the absence of heirs or a valid will. In this case, the owner has clearly designated their youngest child as the heir, which directly contradicts the conditions for escheat, rendering this option incorrect.
D) right of descent
The right of descent refers to the legal principle that allows property to be inherited by designated heirs according to the deceased's will or state law. In this situation, the youngest child inherits the lake house as specified in the will, making this the correct answer.
Conclusion
The right of descent accurately describes the process by which the youngest child inherits the lake house as designated in the owner's will. All other options fail to apply as they pertain to different forms of property transfer that do not align with the conditions set forth in this scenario. Thus, option D is definitively correct.